The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is a major factor in the admissions process of all accredited dental schools. Your score combined with your academic record will be used to determine whether or not you make it into your dream school, which means it is vital that you score as high as possible on your DAT. This requires intense months of DAT prep and a strong understanding of what exactly you’re getting into so there are no surprises on test day. That’s why we’ve assembled everything you need to know before you embark on this journey into DAT prep. Good luck!
DAT ScoringUpon completion, you will receive a set of seven scores based on your performance in each section of the exam, as well as an Academic Average Score. Each score ranges from 1-30, with 30 being the best and 17 being average. There are no penalties for wrong answers on the DAT, so guessing on questions you aren’t sure about is a good idea.You will receive your score immediately after you finish the exam, and you can register to have official DAT transcripts sent to the schools of your choice upon completion. This is covered by your registration fee.What’s On The DAT?The DAT is broken up into four sections:
- Survey of Natural Sciences 90 minutes, 100 questions
- Reading Comprehension 60 minutes, 50 questions
- Perceptual Ability 60 minutes, 90 questions
- Quantitative Reasoning 45 minutes, 40 questions
The exam is science and math-intensive for obvious reasons, but the main purpose of the DAT is to assess your ability to analyze, retain, and apply information. This is a way for schools to gauge whether a potential student will excel in their programs, so think of this as a chance for you to show off.How To StudyPractice Exams:One of the best ways to study for the DAT is by taking multiple, full-length practice tests. You can find these through the official American Dental Association website or through a DAT prep tutor. By taking full-length practice exams in simulated testing conditions (timed, no phone, etc.) you’ll get an accurate assessment of whether or not you’re ready for the real thing and what areas you need to review. It will also help you familiarize yourself with the DAT, so you know exactly what to expect on exam day.Study Right:Another important method of studying is to practice active studying. It can be tempting to sit down at your desk and zone out as your re-read passages from your test prep book, but this is a waste of your study time. Instead, practice rewriting passages and notes in your own words. This requires you to think about the material in a new way and translate it for yourself.You can also try teaching the material to somebody elsepreferably somebody who is not even a dental student. Again, this makes you think about the concepts differently, and having to answer somebody else’s questions may reveal gaps that you didn’t know you had. This method will help you retain the information better than passive studying, which minimizes the chance of blanking during the real DAT.
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